If you made it to the Merrimack River Eagle Festival in Newburyport
last Saturday, chances are that you saw all kinds of raptors. If you
visited the Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center, you had close
looks at some hawks. At the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Headquarters, you got to meet a few owls. And if you attended the
morning or afternoon presentation at the Newburyport City Hall, Joe
Riciardi introduced you to such raptors as a kestrel, peregrine
falcon, barn owl and a magnificent golden eagle. A few lucky people
even had their photo taken with the eagle!

These indoor programs were great for all who participated, however
the best show was outdoors where, once again, the bald eagles, along
with a few other raptors, put on an amazing exhibition. I co-led
three of the van tours and we saw eagles at almost every venue along
our route. We saw eagles perched and eagles flying – adults and
immatures. From the Pumping Station on Spring Street we watched a
second year bird continually fish right in front of us. It would fly
down, drop its large talons in the water, and grab a small fish. It
then headed for a branch in a deciduous tree just upriver where we
could watch it through a scope as it fed on the fish. It repeated
this several times when we were there.

There was also a pair of peregrine falcons hanging around the
Whittier Bridge, sometimes perched atop the arches above the bridge.
Other times we saw them perched on cross beams under the bridge.
Could they be thinking about nesting there? It sure seemed so. Our
van just missed them harassing a passing adult eagle, as if they
were defending their territory. One of the volunteer spotters
stationed at the Pumping Station site described it as “two fighter
jets attacking a passing bomber.”

We did get to see some drama at another location. From the site
behind the Mersen building, we watched a red-tailed hawk do a steep
dive on a passing bald eagle. The red-tail was circling high above
when it saw the eagle enter its territory. The hawk folded its wings
and plummeting toward the eagle, pulling up just before striking the
bird that was two to three times its size!

During our visits along the river, we encountered a couple of
harriers hunting the marsh and a Cooper’s hawk. We watched common
goldeneye courting, and handsome common and red-breasted mergansers
feeding in the river. Great cormorants were also fishing in the
river and a kingfisher flew past us and proceeded further up the
river. Even a harbor seal or two made appearances. It was great fun
for all - and it was all free!

A customer showed me a couple of photos on her phone that she took
this past weekend. One photo was of seven bald eagles on a sand bar
between Deer island and Eagle Island during low tide. An amazing
gathering! The other photo was a flight shot of an immature eagle
trying to steal a fish that an adult bald eagle was carrying. More
drama!

A number of people spent part of the day on their own at Plum Island
where they found up to five snowy owls along the refuge. A couple of
the owls were quite close and they had photographs as well.

If you were unable to attend the Eagle Festival and still want to
see eagles and owls, you are welcome to join me on a free “Eagles
and Owls Walk” this Sunday, February 19. We will meet
at Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift at the Traffic Circle at 1 pm and we
will carpool to look for eagles along the river and then head to
Plum Island to try to find some snowy owls. The trip should last
about 3 -4 hours. Everyone is welcome, but dress warmly, and bring
binoculars, scopes, or field guides if you have them. Hope to see
you then!